12 Hours of Bathurst – Triumph for Bentley and Gounon-Soulet-Pepper

L’équipe Bentley Team M-Sport courait depuis de nombreux mois après une première victoire en Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). The British team has finally put an end to this shortage by adding the 12 Bathurst 2020 Hours to its list of achievements this Sunday, February 2.

Bentley wins at Bathurst!@JulesGounon brings the #7 he shares with @jordanpepper46 and @SouletMaxime across the line to claim @BentleyRacing's first-ever #IntGTC victory. #B12Hr | #IntGTC pic.twitter.com/GsXiUZN3BU

— Intercontinental GT Challenge (@IntercontGTC) February 2, 2020

Author of a rise of ten positions, the Bentley Continental GT3 shared by the Frenchman Jules Gounon, the Belgian Maxime Soulet and the South African Jordan Pepper has always appeared in the leading group. 

However, a puncture 40 minutes from the finish could have ruined everything. Luckily, the incident occurred near the pit entrance and the leaders lost minimal time. This is the first success for Bentley in the Australian event, but also for the crew. 

You've got to be kidding me! @JulesGounon looks odds on to set fastest lap but suffers a tire blowout on Conrod Straight! He pits immediately but that's cost the @BentleyRacing time.#B12Hr | #IntGTC pic.twitter.com/DCWFijTJve

— Intercontinental GT Challenge (@IntercontGTC) February 2, 2020

Initially second, Raffaele Marciello, Felipe Fraga and Maximilian Buhk (Mercedes) dropped to sixth due to a wheelspin penalty after pit stop. For its first appearance in Bathurst, the Mclaren 720S of Ben Barnicoat, Tom Blomqvist and Alvaro Parente finished second, notably after a close pass during the first laps:

What. A.Move! @BenBarnicoat dummies @MaxiBuhk out of the Chase and throws it down the inside.

McLaren leads at Bathurst.#IntGTC | #B12Hr pic.twitter.com/l31aHxZU2X

— Intercontinental GT Challenge (@IntercontGTC) February 1, 2020

Le podium est complété par les spécialistes du Supercars Jamie Whincup, Shane van Gisbergen associés à Maximilian Götz (Mercedes). Partis en pole position, les Français Patrick Pilet et Mathieu Jaminet se contentent de la quatrième place avec Matt Campbell (Porsche).

Among the other Tricolores entered, Romain Dumas (Porsche) narrowly missed the top 10 while Côme Ledogar violently made a mistake with his Aston Martin :

SAFETY CAR

Come Ledogar clips the inside curb coming over Skyline and totals Garage 59's Aston Martin on the outside wall. Come's walked away from the accident but this will take time to clear.#IntGTC | #B12Hr pic.twitter.com/4ixyYzrJAx

— Intercontinental GT Challenge (@IntercontGTC) February 1, 2020

Find it in AUTO issue 2253hebdo, available Monday evening digitally and Wednesday on newsstands, analysis of the Bathurst 12 Hours.

12 Bathurst 2020 Hour result: